Jeremiah's first birthday, Ruthi's antics, and Joshua's faith in action

I can't believe Jeremiah is a year old already. It just doesn't even seem real. I usually spend birthdays reliving and reflecting, but today has gone by in a blur. Rick's in D.C. on business this week and I know it's breaking his heart to miss two birthday landmarks in our household.

Jeremiah is getting so big (and loves to remind me of this several times a day by through his arms up above his head to play the "So big!" game). He has successfully gotten himself down off of our bed without falling twice in a row now. He loves to blow kisses (if he's in the mood), clap his hands, play patti-cake, peek-a-boo, give hugs and kisses, and EAT. He clearly said, "Daddy" when he went running to Rick for a hug when he came in the door from work Friday night.

Ruthi is a sweetie too. She received her much anticipated Pony Castle from her Daddy last Saturday as an early birthday present and has been walking on clouds ever since. But she had me nearly in tears today. I won't rehash it all, but in a very brief nutshell it involved a purposefully wet bed (within an hour of her helping me remake it after all the clean laundry was ready from her prior wetting accident). She then snuck out of her room during supposed "quiet time" to eat 3 2/3 (yes, almost 4!) large bananas. Then we had a totally battle of wills that lasted for over an hour as I insisted that she then eat prunes since I was worried about the tummy ache and constipation from all those bananas!

I somewhere along the line in the midst of the prune battle informed her that "Mommy is going to win this war," and had to answer her wide-eyed, innocent "What war, Mommy?" question.

And an hour later, when she was being such a sweetheart that you never could imagine it was the same child I had just been clashing wills with, I was brushing her hair and she had the nerve to say, "Well, it was good that I ate those yucky prunes, Mommy, but I still won!" What???!!! This child! I love her to pieces, but some days I just wonder if I'm nearly cut out for this job? She is such a God-given blessing, and also the child that keeps me on my knees before the Lord on a daily basis!

I took the kids to Picture People tonight and got a great 1st birthday photo of Jeremiah. Also got a pretty cute one of Ruthi (since her 4th birthday is on Thursday). Unfortunately the one of all three of them didn't turn out since Joshua's hair was all tweaked funny. But I'm really happy with Jeremiah's first birthday picture, so that was a nice way to end the day. The kids were sad that he fell asleep in the car on the way home so we never got to sing happy birthday to him so they could blow out his candle - guess well have to do that tomorrow.

As we were checking out at Picture People, Joshua held up the wooden cross necklace he was wearing and asked the photographer, "Do you know what this means?"
She answered, "Why don't you tell me."
He said, "It means that I'm a Christian because Jesus died on the cross to forgive my sins."
She said, "That's great!"
He said, "So you're a Christian too?"
"No, but I think it's wonderful that you believe that."
"So you haven't asked God to forgive your sins?"
"Not yet."
He tried to press the subject a bit more and she politely redirected the conversation. But as we left I told Joshua just how very proud I was of him and that, if nothing else, he had given her something to think about tonight and we can be praying that God will use that.

If only I had his courage!

Happy birthday, Little Boy. Just two more days until your celebration, Princess. And Young Man, I am so proud of you. All three of you are becoming such amazing people! I thank God continually that you are in my life, even on days when I wonder why He trusted me to such an awesome task of being allowed to mold your lives.